Deputy City Attorney

Description:

General Statement of the Job & Essential Functions
General Statement of Job
Under General Supervision, Performs Professional Legal Work in Representing the City in Civil Cases Heard in The Courts and All Proceedings Before Boards and Commissions. Reports to The City Attorney.

Essential Job Functions:

• Provides Legal Advice and Gives Legal Opinions to City Officials and Other Personnel. Prepares and Files Pleadings, Motions, Interrogatories and Other Legal Documents.
• Represents the City in State and Federal Court and Before State and Federal Administrative Agencies in The Following Areas: Vec, Eeo, Workers Compensation, Flsa, Fmla, Ada, and Grievance Filings.
• Writes Correspondence, Conducts Legal Research, and Writes Briefs and Memorandum of Law. Drafts Ordinances and Resolutions. Reviews, Revises, and Approves Proposed Ordinances, Contracts, Polices, Procedures, and Other Documents for Legal Sufficiency.
• Negotiates, Reviews and Drafts Agreements, Settlement Agreements, Compromise Settlement Agreements, Lump Sum Agreements and Releases.
• Reviews, Provides Comments and Input, Proposes Changes and Approves City Policies Which Are Mandated by Federal and State Law, or Which Have Legal Consequences.
• Attends All City Council Meetings. Attends Various City Meetings as Legal Counsel.
• Reviews Proposed Legislation of The Virginia General Assembly. Drafts Proposed Legislation that Is Beneficial to The City. Drafts Correspondence for Mayor, City Manager, and Other Officials.
• Advises City Department Heads and Other Senior Staff with Regards to Matters that May Have a Legal Impact.
• Advises and Serves as Legal Representative at Designated City Boards, Commissions, and Meetings.
• Files Pleadings and Other Documents at Courthouse and Various Commissions.
• Reviews Books/research Materials for Departmental Library.
• Responds to Citizens' Complaints and Requests for Information.
• As Directed, Assists the With Preparation of The Office Budget and Assumes the Duties of The City Attorney Including Providing Legal Advice Directly to The Mayor and Members of Council and Supervises All Personnel in The Office of The City Attorney the Absence of The City Attorney.
• Performs Other Related Work as Required. Individual Assignments Will Be Determined by Supervisor Based on Current Workload and Department Needs.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
Knowledge of Job: Has Thorough Knowledge of Virginia Law Pertaining to The Operations, Authorities and Responsibilities of Municipal Government. Has Thorough Knowledge of The Principles and Procedures of Civil Law, Especially as Related to Municipal Government. Has Thorough Knowledge of Municipal Government Structure and Operations. Has Considerable Knowledge of Statutory Provisions Applying to Rules of Order. Has Considerable Knowledge of Legal Research and Investigation Methodology, Judicial Procedure, and Rules of Evidence. Has General Knowledge of The Current Literature, Trends and Developments in The Field of Municipal Law. Is Skilled in Legal Writing. Is Able to Interpret and Apply Laws and Court Decisions, and To Use Legal Source Material in Technical Research. Is Able to Direct and Supervise Support Staff. Is Able to Effectively Express Ideas Orally and In Writing. Is Able to Establish and Maintain Effective Working Relationships as Necessitated by Work Assignments.

Quality of Work: Maintains High Standards of Accuracy in Exercising Duties and Responsibilities. Exercises Immediate Remedial Action to Correct Any Quality Deficiencies that Occur in Areas of Responsibility. Maintains High Quality Communication and Interacts with All City Departments and Divisions, Co- Workers and The General Public.

Quantity of Work: Maintains Effective and Efficient Output of All Duties and Responsibilities as Described Under "specific Duties and Responsibilities."

Dependability: Assumes Responsibility for Doing Assigned Work and Meeting Deadlines. Completes Assigned Work on Or Before Deadlines in Accordance with Directives, City Policy, Standards and Prescribed Procedures. Accepts Accountability for Meeting Assigned Responsibilities in The Technical, Human and Conceptual Areas.

Attendance: Attends Work Regularly and Adheres to City Policies and Procedures Regarding Absences and Tardiness. Provides Adequate Notice to Higher Management with Respect to Vacation Time and Time-Off Requests.

Initiative and Enthusiasm: Maintains an Enthusiastic, Self-Reliant and Self-Starting Approach to Meet Job Responsibilities and Accountabilities. Strives to Anticipate Work to Be Done and Initiates Proper and Acceptable Direction for Completion of Work with A Minimum of Supervision and Instruction.

Judgment: Exercises Analytical Judgment in Areas of Responsibility. Identifies Problems or Situations as They Occur and Specifies Decision Objectives. Identifies or Assists in Identifying Alternative Solutions to Problems or Situations. Implements Decisions in Accordance with Prescribed and Effective Policies and Procedures and With a Minimum of Errors. Seeks Expert or Experienced Advice and Researches Problems, Situations and Alternatives Before Exercising Judgment.

Cooperation: Accepts Supervisory Instruction and Direction and Strives to Meet the Goals and Objectives of Same. Questions Such Instruction and Direction when Clarification of Results or Consequences Are Justified, I.E., Poor Communications, Variance with City Policy or Procedures, Etc. Offers Suggestions and Recommendations to Encourage and Improve Cooperation Between All Staff Persons and Departments Within the City.

Relationships with Others: Shares Knowledge with Supervisors and Staff for Mutual and City Benefit. Contributes to Maintaining High Morale Among All City Employees. Develops and Maintains Cooperative and Courteous Relationships with Department Employees, Staffers and Managers in Other Departments, Representatives from Organizations, and The General Public so As to Maintain Good Will Toward the City and Project a Good City Image. Tactfully and Effectively Handles Requests, Suggestions and Complaints from Other Departments and Persons in Order to Maintain Good Will Within the City. Interacts Effectively with Fellow Employees, City Attorney, Professionals and The General Public.

Coordination of Work: Plans and Organizes Daily Work Routine. Establishes Priorities for The Completion of Work in Accordance with Sound Time-Management Methodology. Avoids Duplication of Effort. Estimates Expected Time of Completion of Elements of Work and Establishes a Personal Schedule Accordingly. Attends Meetings, Planning Sessions and Discussions on Time. Implements Work Activity in Accordance with Priorities and Estimated Schedules. Maintains a Calendar for Meetings, Deadlines and Events.

Safety and Housekeeping: Adheres to All Safety and Housekeeping Standards Established by The City and Various Regulatory Agencies. Sees that The Standards Are Not Violated. Maintains a Clean and Orderly Workplace.

Planning: Plans, Directs and Uses Information Effectively in Order to Enhance Activities and Production of The Department. Knows and Understands the Expectations of The City Regarding the Activities of The City Manager and Works to See that These Expectations Are Met. Designs and Formulates Ways, Means and Timing to Achieve the Goals and Objectives of The City Council. Within the Constraints of City Policy, Formulates the Appropriate Strategy and Tactics for Achieving City Objectives.

Organizing: Organizes Work and That of Subordinate Staff Well. Ensures that Staff Members Know What Results Are Expected of Them and Feel that They Are Regularly and Appropriately Informed of All City and Department Matters Affecting Them And/or of Concern to Them.

Staffing: Works with Other City Officials and Management to Select and Recommend Employment of Personnel for The City Who Are Qualified Both Technically and Philosophically to Meet the Needs of The Department and The City. Personally Directs the Development and Training of Department Personnel in Order to Ensure that They Are Properly Inducted, Oriented and Trained.

Leading: Provides a Work Environment Which Encourages Clear and Open Communications. Has a Clear and Comprehensive Understanding of The Principles of Effective Leadership and How Such Principles Are to Be Applied. Provides Adequate Feedback to Staff so That They Know Whether Their Performance Levels Are Satisfactory. Commends and Rewards Employees for Outstanding Performance yet Does Not Hesitate to Take Disciplinary Action when Necessary. Exercises Enthusiasm in Influencing and Guiding Others Toward the Achievement of Department Goals and Objectives.

Controlling: Provides a Work Environment Which Is Orderly and Controlled. Coordinates, Audits and Controls Manpower and Financial Resources Efficiently and Effectively. Coordinates, Audits and Controls the Utilization of Materials and Equipment Efficiently and Effectively. Has a Clear and Comprehensive Understanding of City Standards, Methods and Procedures.

<

---